A pair of AFC playoff contenders were moved into the prime-time spot on the NFL’s Dec. 21 schedule to replace a pair of teams on the outside looking in.

The league flexed the New England Patriots’ trip to play the Baltimore Ravens into “Sunday Night Football” for Week 16, replacing the Cincinnati Bengals’ game at the Miami Dolphins.

The Patriots (11-2) have won 10 straight games and hold a two-game advantage over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC North race. Their ticket to the playoffs is all but officially punched, while the Ravens (6-7) are jostling with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC North lead.

Baltimore fell 27-22 at home to Pittsburgh on Sunday to cede a one-game lead in the division. Their Week 18 game in Baltimore very well could be chosen for the “Sunday Night Football” season finale if its outcome will decide the division.

The Patriots-Ravens clash is a lot more intriguing than a bout between Cincinnati (4-9) and Miami (6-7), even though the Dolphins are on a four-game winning streak.

The Bengals’ season went awry early due to the combination of Joe Burrow’s turf toe injury — which put him on the sidelines for nine games — and a defense that ranks last in the NFL in most major categories.

Coincidentally, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was involved in trying to bring a La Liga regular-season match between Barcelona and Villarreal to the Miami Gardens stadium that weekend. That would have made it nearly impossible logistically to flex the Dolphins out of the night slot up to 1 p.m. But La Liga canceled the Miami game after continued outcry from fans and players alike.

–Field Level Media